Full of fashionable flourishes, the industry icon seemed to have his fellow judges -- including Banks -- under his enigmatic spell.

The newly svelte Banks introduced Talley to the contestants, telling them he's a fashion legend whose influence extends "from here to Milan to Tokyo to London and beyond." In other words: He's the man, make a top-model impression.

And Talley -- who claimed he has never watched "ANTM" before -- made it clear his influence would be potent.

Wearing a dark robe and a horn on a chain around his neck, he spared 18-year-old foul-mouthed Alasia from a trip to the chopping block by declaring he would buy her first backside-exposing portfolio photo "in a gallery and hang it in my salon."

"Salon" was said with great effect, and Talley explained that it was a room where he might engage in great social discourse.

"Because he wants to hang it in his salon," Banks told the model, "you are not going home."